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Anjana Wijegunasinghe
Head - Digital Assurance Solutions of Group Internal Audit
DP World
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Be curious and hungry to learn new things.
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WHAT DO YOU DO?
I am an intrapreneur, who is on a journey to change the DNA of Internal Audit through innovation, creativity and hard work. I lead the Digital Transformation of an Internal Audit function by offering Audit Analytics, Digital Process Automation & Digital Reporting with the support from my team. Another key element I'm passionate about is upskilling the entire Internal Audit team on new tools and technologies to ensure they are 'Future Ready' to make our vision to towards Smarter Audits is a reality.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS FIELD?
I started working soon after leaving school as a Receptionist in a Tech Company 20+ years back. By then I had not even used a computer. Thanks to meeting my husband while working in this company who was a Software Engineer by then, I was beautifully inspired to learn more about computing and techie things which led me to complete my degree in Computer Science. That opened a new path for me to become a Software Engineer, later to be an IT Advisor with KPMG Sri Lanka and many more interesting ventures with well known companies in many countries. As my career was progressing I was fortunate to always have the opportunity to put my intrapreneur skills to action, along with creative and innovative startups within the Risk, Assurance and Governance space. Technology and innovation was something which moved along with me hand in hand in all these adventures.
My current role is a perfect opportunity for me which enables me to broaden my horizons as I spearhead a digital transformation journey while continue to learn new things every day.
HOW DO/DID YOU TACKLE OBSTACLES?
Each journey has its own challenges and setbacks and mine was no exception. My mantra was to always be positive and take a step back each time and have a re-look at things.
All answers on how to move forward didn’t come out instantly, but perseverance and grit made it possible to sail through.
WHAT DO YOU LOOK AT & THINK, "I WISH YOUNGER ME WOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS WAS POSSIBLE?"
Looking back at my journey I'm proud to see where I am. I started off working soon after leaving school to support my higher studies. I wish I could tell my younger self that all my hard work and sacrifices are going to be paid off.
WHY DO YOU LOVE WORKING IN STEM?
I'm excited to learn new things, take up new challenges and explore new opportunities to advance way of working of my team and in turn to contribute to the Internal Audit profession.
I like to continue my career related to Risk, Governance and Advisory and digital technologies is my passion. So I have the perfect blend in both worlds with what I do.
BEST ADVICE FOR NEXT GENERATION?
Be curious and hungry to learn new things. The world is moving on a faster pace and there is no profession, individual not affected by it. STEM subjects open so many doors to brilliant careers and also create new paths too. Be the change you want to be and write your own story. There is no limit to what you could achieve or what you want to be.
INSPIRATION
My parents, who always encouraged me to be what I want to be, and gender was never a question or a consideration.
My husband whom I met during very early stages in my career.
He inspired me to move towards a career path 'Which gives me the opportunity to make use of the brainpower, learn new things', which made me explore all possibilities, and the rest is history.
There is no limit what a girl could achieve provided you got the right attitude and work hard on the aptitude.